UPDATE 4-Chile assesses damage after massive quake, tsunami

SANTIAGO, April 2 (Reuters) - Chilean authorities on
Wednesday were assessing the damage from a massive earthquake
that struck off the northern coast, causing a small tsunami, but
the impact appeared to be mostly limited.

The 8.2 magnitude quake that shook northern Chile on Tuesday
killed six people and triggered a tsunami with 2-meter (7-foot)
waves.

As the ocean waves receded, over 900,000 people who had
evacuated the country's low-lying coastal areas returned to
their homes, some to find their houses and livelihoods in ruins.

More than 2,600 homes were damaged and fishing boats along
the northern coast were smashed up. However, most infrastructure
held up and mines in the world's No. 1 copper producer were
generally functioning normally.

The arid, mineral-rich north is sparsely populated, with
most of the population concentrated in the port towns of Iquique
and Arica, near the Peruvian border.

In Peru, the earthquake led to temporary power outages and
evacuations in some southern towns, but did not cause serious
damage or injuries.